• Official report confirms drowning during endurance event in Texas
• Experienced athlete with strong social media presence and international competition record

Montgomery County authorities officially confirmed on Monday the death of Brazilian fitness influencer Mara Flavia Souza Araujo, after she drowned during the swimming segment of an Ironman event in Texas, USA.

The incident took place on Saturday morning during competitions held at Lake Woodlands near Houston, where the 38-year-old athlete was initially reported as a “missing swimmer” around 7:30 a.m.

Authorities said rescue teams were unable to locate her at first, before divers recovered her body about 90 minutes later at a depth of roughly 3 meters, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in an official statement that preliminary findings indicate she died as a result of drowning during the swimming portion of the race.

Reports noted that Araujo was an experienced endurance athlete who had completed at least nine Ironman competitions since 2018, and had more than 60,000 followers on Instagram.

Days before her death, she had shared a reflective message on social media about appreciating life, writing: “Enjoy this fast ride of life… it may end at any moment.”

Race organizers expressed their condolences to her family, offering full support and thanking emergency teams for their response to the incident.